STATE COLLEGE, CENTRE COUNTY - Folks in the State College community are paying tribute to all kinds of heroes at the downtown Heister Street mural.
It's 48 hours. Two days to remember those lives lost and celebrate those surviving. Michael Pilato paints to remember every year, but this year he's painting for change.
September 11th is a day to remember.
"Just be thankful for my family and how great of a country we are and that we need to stick together and we need to be proud to be an American," Penn State freshman Michelle Perry said.
For Perry, the anniversary is a time to be thankful for her father's life.
"He was in the South Tower on the 46th floor that day," Perry said. "He heard the plane hit the first building and I guess he just went down the stairs and bolted blocks away, came home that night."
For the past 11 years, Michael Pilato has held a 9-11 vigil at his Inspiration mural in downtown State College to celebrate those like Perry's father that survived the attacks, and to remember those lives lost and the heroes that risked their lives saving others.
"The firefighters, police officers, EMT, all those people today are servicemen that really are our heroes," Pilato said.
But this year, Pilato wants to commemorate another type of hero. Heroes he feels have become more prevalent in the State College community over the past year.
"These are heroes of the silent voice, our children, the men and women across this country that are abused sexually," he said. "It's a very powerful, poignant message."
A message he hopes will bring the community together to heal and move forward.
"Hopefully with the help of Penn State University and the great students here and people in State College and people around the world that have awareness about it, this will be a much smaller issue as all of our hearts come together," Pilato said.
The vigil will continue through Tuesday evening. Pilato says anyone is welcome to come out to listen and share their stories.
It's 48 hours. Two days to remember those lives lost and celebrate those surviving. Michael Pilato paints to remember every year, but this year he's painting for change.
September 11th is a day to remember.
"Just be thankful for my family and how great of a country we are and that we need to stick together and we need to be proud to be an American," Penn State freshman Michelle Perry said.
For Perry, the anniversary is a time to be thankful for her father's life.
"He was in the South Tower on the 46th floor that day," Perry said. "He heard the plane hit the first building and I guess he just went down the stairs and bolted blocks away, came home that night."
For the past 11 years, Michael Pilato has held a 9-11 vigil at his Inspiration mural in downtown State College to celebrate those like Perry's father that survived the attacks, and to remember those lives lost and the heroes that risked their lives saving others.
"The firefighters, police officers, EMT, all those people today are servicemen that really are our heroes," Pilato said.
But this year, Pilato wants to commemorate another type of hero. Heroes he feels have become more prevalent in the State College community over the past year.
"These are heroes of the silent voice, our children, the men and women across this country that are abused sexually," he said. "It's a very powerful, poignant message."
A message he hopes will bring the community together to heal and move forward.
"Hopefully with the help of Penn State University and the great students here and people in State College and people around the world that have awareness about it, this will be a much smaller issue as all of our hearts come together," Pilato said.
The vigil will continue through Tuesday evening. Pilato says anyone is welcome to come out to listen and share their stories.
